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It just seems more legitimate. Helping, I think, are the judges. The judges on Dancing with the Stars are all respected in their field but have become over-the-top caricatures of themselves. (Let’s face it: Bruno is now a cartoon character.)

Here, paternal Nigel Lythgoe, especially, adds decorum and authenticity to the proceedings. In the 11th season of SYTYCD, his approach remains a bit stern and instructor-like. He’s like Simon Cowell with better hair and manners, another flinty Brit who has no problem saying no.

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Even Mary Murphy has put the brakes on her hot tamale train. Her new ’50s ’do adds a touch of elegance.

Joining them Wednesday on the Atlanta auditions was Lil Buck, who’s all about “jookin”. The rotating third judge works here, with Lil Buck adding an outsider perspective and giving the kids someone closer to their age to relate to.

For Day Two of the Atlanta auditions, the guest judge was Jenna Lee Dewan-Tatum, an actress on the shot-in-Vancouver Lifetime series The Witches of East End. Her background is dance, plus she’s married to some guy named Channing Tatum, so she’s used to seeing abs.

Then there are the auditioners. Most are gifted and perform eye-popping routines. I’m not sure much of it is dancing, however. The show could be called “So You Think You Can Do an Olympic Floor Exercise.”

Take Mariah, she with her slow-motion full split and magic, mid-air pause. The judges also responded to her personality and gave her a standing O. Mr. Buck told her he didn’t want to blink. She won a ticket to the next round.

Several dancers had auditioned in previous years, including tapper Erik “Silky” Moore. He starts out with a more freestyle bit depicting his grandmother in an insane asylum. Whoa, says Nigel, putting up his hand to stop the lad. Silky glides into pop-n-lock and break dance mode and the crowd and the judges all love it. He, too, is on to the next round.

Kelly MacCoy earned a ticket even though her jazz routine was just so-so. Nigel told her to watch the swayback. Christopher Griffin, nicknamed “Mr. Strange,” earned a ticket. Conrad Dechabert got all tattooed up after being told his approach was too feminine in previous years. He danced to sombre, serious music. Nigel gave him heck for smiling all through it but he got a ticket anyway.

There was much popping and locking from Brandon, a.k.a. “Sideshow,” but it didn’t earn him a ticket. Nigel said it was too pantomime, not enough dance. Maybe he should change his name to “Mainstage.”

On Day Two, the judges were impressed with Ricky Uaeda, who soared trough his routine with leaps and bounds far beyond the abilities of mortal men. Nigel felt he could win this thing. Mary told him he brought the “hotlanta.” Ticket.

There was more gymnastics from Marissa Miele, who earned a ticket. Elaine Kimble had a touching story about her mom surviving a stroke at 43 and how they both have a heart defect. The judges had a heart and bumped her through to the choreography round. That’s where Brandon “Crazy Legz” Jacob also got sent.

A young woman named Angelina Granitz wandered in zombie-like. She said her brother inspired her to try out and you wondered why he wasn’t auditioning. Then she danced and that’s when her personality came out. Nigel told her she was like two different people. It was off to the next round.

There was a break featuring Justin Bieber and some other dude. It was disorienting seeing him and it wasn’t some sort of deposition. I guess they were there to help teach these kids how to become jerks after getting famous.

Like Idol or The Voice, much of this series hangs on tales of inspiration. One powerful story came from Cristina Moya-Palacios, whose brother has undergone 20 heart surgeries in 10 years. The lad was in the house, and Nigel told him they share something in common: both have pacemakers. Sis danced contemporary and made it through to the next round.

Jerrod Swain stepped up to dance but not before his 4-year-old son stole the show. The sleepy little tyke rocked the house with his head-shifty number, and then went straight back to sleep. Dad danced what he called “animation” and Nigel pointed out it was more style steps than dance. Jenna liked it, however, and the dude got to at least last through the choreography round before being told to step off. Of the choreography rounders, Elaine with the hole in her heart made it through.

Next week it’s off to California and tempers flare as the battle for the Top 20 begins. The showdown is being hyped as “the best talent we’ve ever seen.” Just once I’d like one of these shows to say, “It’s an off year, but come back anyway.”

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